David Cameron under fire as internal opposition to leadership grows

Tory opposition to
David Cameron appears to be growing, with the emergence of the first backbencher to challenge him.

Dissent in the ranks: former soldier Patrick Mercer is leading opposition to David Cameron (Picture: Murray Sanders)

Ex-colonel Patrick Mercer is the first MP to be named as having written to party bosses calling for a confidence vote in the prime minister.The move follows reports that up to 14 Conservative MPs have done the same, although the figure is well short of the 46 Tory MPs needed to trigger a leadership contest.Another potential rival to Mr Cameron, London mayor Boris Johnson , is threatening to overshadow the prime minister at the Conservative Party conference next month.Mr Johnson will make a speech trumpeting his victory over Labour’s Ken Livingstone in May despite the economic downturn.The fringe event is entitled Boris Johnson’s 2012: Re-elected And Olympotastic. Mr Johnson’s popularity has risen this summer and he was widely regarded as having delivered a better speech than Mr Cameron during last Monday’s victory parade.A poll has shown Mr Johnson is easily Britain’s most respected politician. But Conservative MP Philip Davies downplayed his chances of becoming leader. ‘Boris is not prime minister material,’ he said. ‘The public want a prime minister who looks like one. ‘They don’t want him to resemble a dishevelled buffoon. He may have a brain the size of a small country, but PM? No thanks.’Former leader Sir John Major also questioned Mr Johnson’s chances. ‘Boris isn’t in parliament, Boris hasn’t said he wishes to become prime minister, quite the reverse,’ he said.